WATER QUALITY STANDARD Indian Standard Drinking Water - Specification IS : 1991

Technical Terms BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) Desirable limits Permissible limit PPM NTU Hazen Units

Colour, Hazen Units IS Desirable : 5 Hz., Permissible : 25 Hz. Risks or effectsVisible tint, acceptance decreases Sources Tannins, Iron, Copper, Manganese Natural deposits TreatmentFiltration, Distillation, Reverse osmosis, Ozonisation

Odour IS Unobjectionable Risks or effectsRotten egg, Musty, Chemical Sources Chlorine, Hydrogen sulphide, Organic matter, Septic contamination, Methane gas TreatmentActivated carbon, Air stripping, oxidation, Filtration

pH IS Desirable :6.5 – 8.5, Permissible :No relaxation Risks or effects Low pH - corrosion, metallic taste High pH – bitter/soda taste, deposits SourcesNatural Treatment Increase pH by soda ash Decrease pH with white vinegar / citric acid

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) IS Desirable : 500 mg/l, Permissible : 2000 mg/l Risks or effects Hardness, scaly deposits, sediment, cloudy colored water, staining, salty or bitter taste, corrosion of pipes and fittings Sources Livestock waste, septic system Landfills, nature of soil Hazardous waste landfills Dissolved minerals, iron and manganese TreatmentReverse Osmosis, Distillation, deionization by ion exchange lvanized_Iron_Drains_116_DFs.jpg

Hardness IS Desirable :300 mg/l, Permissible : 600 mg/l Risks or effectsScale in utensils and hot water system, soap scums Sources Dissolved calcium and magnesium from soil and aquifer minerals containing limestone or dolomite TreatmentWater Softener Ion Exchanger, Reverse Osmosis

Alkalinity IS Desirable : 200 mg/l, Permissible : 600 mg/lit Risks or effects Low Alkalinity (i.e. high acidity) causes deterioration of plumbing and increases the chance for many heavy metals in water are present in pipes, solder or plumbing fixtures. Sources Pipes, landfills Hazardous waste landfills TreatmentNeutralizing agent

Iron IS Desirable : 0.3 mg/l, Permissible : 1.0 mg/l Risks or effects Brackish color, rusty sediment, bitter or metallic taste, brown- green stains, iron bacteria, discolored beverages Sources Leaching of cast iron pipes in water distribution systems Natural TreatmentOxidizing Filter, Green-sand Mechanical Filter

Manganese IS Desirable : 0.1 mg/l, Permissible : 0.3 mg/l Risks or effects Brownish color, black stains on laundry and fixtures at.2 mg/l, bitter taste, altered taste of water-mixed beverages Sources Landfills Deposits in rock and soil Treatment Ion Exchange, Chlorination, Oxidizing Filter, Green-sand Mechanical Filter

Sulphate IS Desirable : 200 mg/l, Permissible : 400 mg/l Risks or effects Bitter, medicinal taste, scaly deposits, corrosion, laxative effects, "rotten-egg" odour from hydrogen sulphide gas formation Sources Animal sewage, septic system, sewage By-product of coal mining, industrial waste Natural deposits or salt Sulphate TreatmentIon Exchange, Distillation, Reverse Osmosis SO 4

Nitrate IS Desirable : 45 mg/l, Permissible : 100 mg/lit Risks or effectsMethemoglobinemia or blue baby disease in infants Sources Livestock facilities, septic systems, manure lagoons, Household waste water, Fertilizers, Natural Deposits, TreatmentIon Exchange, Distillation, Reverse Osmosis NO 3-

Chloride IS Desirable : 250 mg/l, Permissible : 1000 mg/l Risks or effects High blood pressure, salty taste, corroded pipes, fixtures and appliances, blackening and pitting of stainless steel Sources Fertilizers Industrial wastes Minerals, seawater TreatmentReverse Osmosis, Distillation, Activated Carbon Cl

Fluoride IS Desirable : 1.0 mg/l, Permissible : 1.5 mg/l Risks or effectsBrownish discoloration of teeth, bone damage Sources Industrial waste Geological Treatment Activated Alumina, Distillation, Reverse Osmosis, Ion Exchange

Arsenic IS: Desirable: 0.05 mg/l Permissible: No relaxation Risks or effects Weight loss; Depression; Lack of energy; Skin and nervous system toxicity Sources Previously used in pesticides (orchards) Improper waste disposal or product storage of glass or electronics, Mining Rocks Treatment Activated Alumina Filtration, Reverse Osmosis, Distillation, Chemical Precipitation, Ion exchange, lime softening

Chromium IS Desirable : 0.05 mg/l, Permissible : No relaxation Risks or effects Skin irritation, skin and nasal ulcers, lung tumors, gastrointestinal effects, damage to the nervous system and circulatory system, accumulates in the spleen, bones, kidney and liver Sources Septic systems Industrial discharge, mining sites Geological TreatmentIon Exchange, Reverse Osmosis, Distillation

Copper IS Desirable : 0.05 mg/l, Permissible : 1.5 mg/l Risks or effects Anemia, digestive disturbances, liver and kidney damage, gastrointestinal irritations, bitter or metallic taste; Blue-green stains on plumbing fixtures Sources Leaching from copper water pipes and tubing, algae treatment Industrial and mining waste, wood preservatives Natural deposits TreatmentIon Exchange, Reverse Osmosis, Distillation

Cyanide IS Desirable : 0.05 mg/l, Permissible : No relaxation Risks or effectsThyroid, nervous system damage Sources Fertilizer Electronics, steel, plastics mining TreatmentIon Exchange, Reverse Osmosis, Chlorination

Lead IS Desirable : 0.05 mg/l, Permissible : No relaxation Risks or effects Reduces mental capacity (mental retardation), interference with kidney and neurological functions, hearing loss, blood disorders, hypertension, death at high levels Sources Paint, diesel fuel combustion Pipes and solder, discarded batteries, paint, leaded gasoline Natural deposits Treatment Ion Exchange, Activated Carbon, Reverse Osmosis, Distillation Brain Nerve Damage Hearing Problems Digestive Issues Stunted Growth

Mercury IS Desirable : mg/l, Permissible : No relaxation Risks or effects Loss of vision and hearing, intellectual deterioration, kidney and nervous system disorders, death at high levels Sources Fungicides Batteries, fungicides Mining, electrical equipment, plant, paper and vinyl chloride Natural deposits TreatmentReverse Osmosis, Distillation

Zinc IS Desirable :5 mg/l, Permissible : 15 mg/l Risks or effectsMetallic taste Sources Leaching of galvanized pipes and fittings, paints, dyes Natural deposits Treatment Ion Exchange Water Softeners, Reverse Osmosis, Distillation

Total Coliform Bacteria IS % of samples should not contain coliform in 100 ml 10 coliform / 100ml Risks or effectsGastrointestinal illness Sources Livestock facilities, septic systems, manure lagoons Household waste water Naturally occurring TreatmentChlorination, Ultraviolet, Distillation, Iodination

E.coliform Bacteria IS Nil / 100ml Risks or effectsGastrointestinal illness Sources Livestock facilities, septic systems, manure lagoons Household waste water Naturally occurring TreatmentChlorination, Ultraviolet, Distillation, Iodination

HEALTH EFFECTS OF CHEMICAL PARAMETERS ParameterBIS Guideline value (maximum allowable) General & Health effect Total dissolved solids 2000 mg/LUndesirable taste; gastro intestinal irritations; corrosion or incrustation PH Affects mucous membrane; bitter taste; corrosion; affects aquatic life Alkalinity600 mg/LBoiled rice turns yellowish Hardness600 mg/LPoor lathering with soap; deterioration of the quality of clothes; scale forming; skin irritation; boiled meat and food become poor in quality Calcium200Poor lathering and deterioration of the quality of clothes; incrustation in pipes; scale formation Magnesium100Poor lathering and deterioration of clothes; with sulfate laxative Iron1.0Poor or sometimes bitter taste, color and turbidity; staining of clothes materials; iron bacteria causing slime Manganese0.3Poor taste, color and turbidity; staining; black slime

Parameter BIS Guideline value (maximum allowable) General & Health effect Aluminum0.2Neurological disorders; Alzheimer's disease Copper1.5Liver damage; mucosal irritation, renal damage and depression; restricts growth of aquatic plants Zinc15Astringent taste; opalescence in water; gastro intestinal irritation; vomiting, dehydration, abdominal pain, nausea and dizziness Ammonia-Indicates pollution; growth of algae Nitrite-Forms nitrosoamines which are carcinogenic Nitrate100Blue baby disease (methemoglobineamia); algal growth Sulfate400Taste affected; laxative effect; gastro intestinal irritation Chloride1000Taste affected; corrosive Fluoride1.5Dental and skeletal fluorosis; non-skeletal HEALTH EFFECTS OF CHEMICAL PARAMETERS

Parameter BIS Guideline value (maximum allowable) General & Health effect Phosphate-Algal growth Arsenic0.05Toxic; bio-accumulation; central nervous system affected; carcinogenic Mercury0.001Highly toxic; causes 'minamata' disease-neurological impairment and renal disturbances; mutagenic Cadmium0.01Highly toxic; causes 'itai-itai' disease-painful rheumatic condition; cardio vascular system affected; gastro intestinal upsets and hyper tension Lead0.05Causes plumbism-tiredness, lassitudes, abdominal discomfort, irritability, anaemia; bio-accumulation; impaired neurological and motor development, and damage to kidneys Chromium0.05Carcinogenic; ulcerations, respiratory problems and skin complaints Pesticide0.001Affects central nervous system Detergent-Undesirable foaming HEALTH EFFECTS OF CHEMICAL PARAMETER S

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